1-on-1 with Sen. Markey on the Supreme Court, filibuster, economy

BOSTON, Mass. — From the Supreme Court to the impact of high gas prices and inflation.

Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey spoke with Boston 25 about some of biggest issues impacting all of us today.

“The Supreme Court is taking 50 years of law on gun safety, on climate, on abortion rights and they’re just dissolving those rights. It is historic. There’s actually a 4-alarm fire going on at the Supreme Court,” Markey said.

Speaking one-on-one with Boston 25 News anchor Kerry Kavanaugh Thursday in Boston, Senator Markey says it’s time to eliminate the filibuster, to expand the Supreme Court; taking back what he believes were “stolen seats”.

Markey tweeted this on Thursday upon learning of the latest Supreme Court decision to restrict the EPA’s authority to limit carbon emission from power plant;

“We cannot sit by as a captured, illegitimate, and far-right Supreme Court majority eviscerates the authorities that the government has had for decades to address greenhouse gas pollution from fossil fuels and prevent climate chaos.”

Kavanaugh asked him about that Tweet.

“Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stole two Supreme Court seats. And they now have an illegitimate, right wing, Supreme Court to effectuate the agenda of the most conservative elements of our country,” Markey said.

Markey believes the changes to voting rights, gun safety, and abortion access are only the beginning.

“So, if they wanted to have codified Roe v. Wade, they had ample time to do it,” said Paris Dennard, National Spokesperson for the Republican National Committee. “So now what they’re trying to do is further politicize this issue for political gain, because they know that the support that they have is taking as we lead up to the midterms.”

Dennard told Kavanaugh, the voters he hears from are more concerned with something else.

“When we travel across the country, the number one issue that we hear from voters, Republican voters, independents, Democrats included, it’s the economy,” he said.

“The Republican party is hand-in-hand with the natural gas and oil industry in our country,” Markey said. “That combined with the war in Ukraine has led to a cut-off of oil coming into our country, has created this issue of inflation in our country. But I think on climate change, on gun rights on abortion, there’s a building agenda here that is going to activate suburban America, who the Republicans have been targeting.”

“But there is legitimate concern in suburban America, rural America, urban America about going to the grocery store. Do you see any relief coming?” asked Kavanaugh.

“Well perversely, the oil industry has a stake in higher prices because they believe that they can reap windfall profits right now and create a bad political climate for Democrats. They win both ways,” Markey said. “That’s why we have to keep the blame on the oil companies and make sure blame is properly placed, which is on the head of the oil and gas industry in our country.”

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